Questionable Fuel in Transfer Tank

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I have another question for the brain trust here. I picked up a transfer tank from the farm to use for the equipment building my driveway and pad for my upcoming house build. It has enough fuel in it that I hate to just pump it out, but there is a chance there is water in it. Is there a generally accepted way to flush/ filter the fuel in transfer tanks to ensure the quality? My brother in law said it should be good fuel in it but when he got it back from the jobsite there was no cap on the top and he knows it rained several times with no cap.

 

[2manyrocks]

I got some bad lawn mower gas about two weeks ago. Had to clean the carb, change the fuel filter, the fuel pump, and drain the tank. If it had been bad diesel, would have been worse. As bad as I hate to get rid of fuel, it's worse to have to clean out your engine system and dispose of the fuel anyway.

 

[Chewwy]

I have another question for the brain trust here. I picked up a transfer tank from the farm to use for the equipment building my driveway and pad for my upcoming house build. It has enough fuel in it that I hate to just pump it out, but there is a chance there is water in it. Is there a generally accepted way to flush/ filter the fuel in transfer tanks to ensure the quality? My brother in law said it should be good fuel in it but when he got it back from the jobsite there was no cap on the top and he knows it rained several times with no cap.

It’s pretty simple to separate fuel and water. Run the fuel thru an inline water fuel separator. You may have to drain the water from the separator several times. The size of the opening for the cap on the tank is relatively small compared to the tanks size.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

It’s pretty simple to separate fuel and water. Run the fuel thru an inline water fuel separator. You may have to drain the water from the separator several times. The size of the opening for the cap on the tank is relatively small compared to the tanks size.

I'll see what i can find for filters around here locally.

 

[RjCorazza]

(3) points...
Most transfer tanks will have a low point drain. Open that up to get the bulk of the water that is on the bottom of the fuel.

Although IMHO every transfer tank should have a permanent mount water separating filter, you can also use a "Mr Funnel" filter to separate water.

There is also a "water snake" that is dropped into the tank on a cord. It will absorb the water at the bottom of the tank.

Over the years I have used all of these methods at one time or another. I keep a water separating 10u filter on the tank discharge.

 

[2manyrocks]

The other concern would be whether someone tampered with the fuel in the transfer tank or just forgot and left the cap off.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I have another question for the brain trust here. I picked up a transfer tank from the farm to use for the equipment building my driveway and pad for my upcoming house build. It has enough fuel in it that I hate to just pump it out, but there is a chance there is water in it. Is there a generally accepted way to flush/ filter the fuel in transfer tanks to ensure the quality? My brother in law said it should be good fuel in it but when he got it back from the jobsite there was no cap on the top and he knows it rained several times with no cap.

Just put a water separator on it. Every fuel tank we use has one. Some fuel has so much water I had to dump out the separator several times a day. Log loaders and skidders use some fuel up.

 

[paulsharvey]

Get a $8 bulb hose siphon at HF; stick end in the lowest point if the tank; siphon into clear water/milk/juice jugs until you've got the water out; plus a bit more; and throw that on the burn pile; and proceed with normal operations.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Get a $8 bulb hose siphon at HF; stick end in the lowest point if the tank; siphon into clear water/milk/juice jugs until you've got the water out; plus a bit more; and throw that on the burn pile; and proceed with normal operations.

Sounds like the cheapest and quickest option. It does have an inline filter but no water separator.

 

[5030]

Run it through a Mr. Funnel and add biocide.